Too Many Apps, Too Little Time
How Service Design helps to regain control in the digital tool jungle
By Rosbeh Ghobarkar CEO - Digital Services by spyke
Challenges and solutions
In today's working world, there's an app for everything. And for every app, there are at least five alternatives. Over 1,000 new business tools appear every month, and there are now more than 150,000 solutions worldwide, covering a wide variety of processes along the value chain—from purchasing to customer loyalty. What began as a blessing of digitalization has become a problem for many companies: tool overload. More and more digital systems—less and less overview.*
*Sources Atlassian / Freshworks / Productiv TechCrunch / Statista
The dark side of the tool flood
Studies show that managers in companies spend an average of 40 to 80 hours per year searching for, evaluating, and implementing new tools . And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Inappropriate software, duplicate systems, interface problems, and a lack of user acceptance lead to hidden costs of between €10,000 and €50,000 per company annually—not to mention the frustration within the team.
Why Service Design is the solution.*
In a world where digital tools have become a critical part of the infrastructure, what's needed isn't more apps—what's needed are better decisions. And this is precisely where service design comes in. Unlike traditional IT consulting, service design focuses not on individual products, but on the entire system: processes, people, goals—and only then the technology.
Many Canadian companies are already benefiting from close economic cooperation with Germany – for example in the areas of energy, technology, aviation and mobility.
*Sources Atlassian / Freshworks / Productiv TechCrunch / Statista
The goal
A curated, lean, integrated tool landscape that is based on real workflows – not on marketing promises.
#1
Tool audit
Which systems are already in use – and how effectively are they being used?
#2
Value chain
Which steps in the company actually require digital support?
#3
Goal definition
What does the company want to achieve – efficiency, scalability, automation?
#4
Market research & curation
How does a digital manager succeed in selecting the right solution for the company from over 150,000 tools in a strategic, user-centric and independent manner?
#5
Integration check
What can be seamlessly integrated into existing systems? Which tools work together harmoniously?
#6
Leadership and Teams
How can transparent, compact overviews with concrete recommendations be created as a basis for decision-making for managers and teams – ready for immediate implementation?
#7
Piloting & User Testing
How can targeted piloting and user testing ensure that tools meet the actual requirements and needs of users in their everyday work?
#8
Onboarding & Training
How can employees be supported and empowered so that new digital solutions are successfully used and accepted in the long term?
#5
Monitoring & Optimization
How can the long-term success of introduced tools be ensured through continuous monitoring and targeted optimization?
#10
Governance & Strategy
How can digital governance be established that enables sustainable strategic development and prevents uncontrolled growth in the tool landscape?
The 10-point plan: How curated tool landscapes really work
In my experience, these ten questions have proven to be central to every strategic digitalization phase. They should at least be discussed – and as early as possible in the process. This is precisely where it is decided whether digital projects remain merely a good idea or are actually implemented effectively.
One approach that has proven helpful is a certain realistic or even pessimistic pragmatism: not born of fear, but of foresight. The conviction that digital transformation can succeed goes hand in hand with the willingness to ask critical questions – especially when things don't go according to plan. It's about formulating visions, but at the same time developing the ability to have robust responses to potential problems and risks.
These questions aren't obstacles—they're a compass. Thinking them through seriously lays the foundation for digital solutions that endure even in difficult times.
We wish you success with your implementation. Sustainable digitalization begins with clear questions – and the courage to answer them honestly.